Franciscans for the elimination of leprosy

The Franciscan Province of the Immaculate Conception in Brazil (PFICB) has always focused on the plight of leprosy patients which requires a special and fraternal interest because of the charism of the founder of the Order, St. Francis of Assisi.

The brothers of the province have a long history of work in three “colonias” or neighborhoods: in ITU (SP), Venda das Pedras (RJ) and Piraquara (PR), where, in addition to medical treatment, a special spiritual support is offered  to ensure better coping with the disease which requires much sacrifice due to its having a long prophylactic course.   Compulsory residential care  in the  “colonias” is required of all diagnosed persons.

Three years ago, at the request of the Minister of the province, brother Augusto Koenig, the friars of the PFICB decided to expand and develop their activities in these “colonias”.

Thus the project for the elimination of leprosy is an action aimed to recover the Franciscan charism in a current and innovative way and to achieve the elimination of leprosy in the nation, mainly through providing information and prevention. This project supports governmental measures and facilities which are already serving  the country. Every development and action of the project is done in collaboration with the national program for the control of leprosy (PNEH).

In Brazil, since 1981, leprosy patients could receive free treatment at all health centers and aid stations so long as the patient accepted the entire chemotherapy  (MDT - the simultaneous use of drugs) treatment. Due to this treatment, the overall disease rate has been reduced by more than 80% in 10 years.

Despite progress in the fight against leprosy, Brazil has a significant number of patients. The main indicator for the epidemiological control of leprosy is the rate of detection which represents the relation between new case and the general population.  Brazil shows a high detection rate (2.3 cases per 10,000 inhabitants in 2007) with an average of 50,000 new cases per year, equivalent to 90% of cases on the American continent, according to the figures of the Secretary of Health Surveillance (SVS) of the Ministry of Health (MS ).

Leprosy is a public health issue because it is endemic, an infectious disease which impacts thousands of Brazilian.  Although there is a cure for the disease and this is guaranteed and successful with a complete course of treatment by the PNCH which guarantees professional care offering appropriate, complete and free help to those who seek health care and thus fulfilling its social role,  a gap occurs when there is no knowledge that one has the disease.  There is a need to provide basic education  so as to link this population and this health service.  It is in this field that the PFICB,  from its work in social assistance, can activate a network from the parish structures, community of faithful who can spread the essential information about the disease so that people can be examined and seek adequate attention.  The earlier diagnosis and treatment is started, the lower the number of incidents occur, the more the cure and diminishment of the number of persons with the disease. According to World Health Organization (WHO) only in this way will elimination of the disease occur at a level less than one case per ten thousand inhabitants.

The Franciscan project is to eradicate leprosy  has as its objective to work with spiritual and socio-educational formation and development in collaboration with civil authorities and with the general population.  Alerting the population about the importance of early detection of leprosy serves both to protect citizens’ rights to provide care because, in order to control Hansianism in Brazil, both development of information for early diagnosis and prevention are necessary.   We intend to achieve this with as large as possible a number of persons attended by the projects  gradually expanding our activities in various Brazilian municipalities.

Solange Monteiro Amador
Coordinator of the Franciscan project for the elimination of leprosy

Responsable Friar for the leprosy project:
Frei Johannes Bahlmann, ofm
Convento São Francisco
Largo São Francisco, 133, Centro,
01005-010 São Paulo – SP / Brasilien
Email: johannes@franciscanos.org.br
Site: www.franciscanos.org.br